Vada (food)

A vadai (left center), served with an idli, coconut chutney and sambar.

A vadai (alternatively vada, wada, vade), pronounced 'vah-daa' or 'vah-die', is a savoury South Indian snack shaped like a doughnut and made from lentil or potato.

There is one other variety commonly known in south India as Aama Vadai. This is prepared using lentils.

Vada can vary in size and shape, though most are comparable to the Western doughnut except that the Indian vada is spicy unlike the sweet doughnut.

Mashed or diced potatoes and/or lentils are seasoned — sometimes sauteed — then shaped, covered in a gram flour batter and deep-fried.

Although battered and deep-fried, the finished product should not be too oily if prepared correctly.

Served in a bun with fresh spice/sweet chutney, a vada becomes a vada pav, a street food like the hot dog.

Other Varieties of Vadai

• Dahi/Thayir Vadai (made by serving the vada in a mix of yoghurt and spices)
• Ulli Vadai (made of onion)
• Maddur Vadai (Made with onion and not doughnut shaped)
• Paruppu Vadai (Made with toor dal and shaped roughly like a pattie)
• Masala Vadai (a more soft and not so crisp Vadai)
• Rava Vadai (Vadai made of semolina)
• Batata Vada ( Bonda )(Made with potatoes, garlic and spices coated with lintel paste and fried; when consumed with paav (an indian bread), the combination is called Vada paav)

External links

• Various varieties of Vadai